Due to migration to Western countries like South Africa, many Indian women began to wear the normal saree below the waistline exposing the navel, known as low-rise saree or low hip saree. Thus, the space between the bottom of the saree blouse and the top of the petticoat began to expand to expose the navel or a healthy roll of fat instead of only a couple of inches of skin. Also due to liberalisation and changing global fashion trends, sarees are re-emerging as a dress which can expose as much as it conceals.
As a result, sarees began to be designed in many innovative ways and materials. Transparent and semi-transparent sarees made of sheer fabrics like chiffon are an example. Heavily embroidered sarees gave way to printed nylons and polyesters.
These sarees are draped in different ways, such as petticoat being tied at about 4–6 inches below the navel or where the blouse is small and ends just below the breasts and the pallu is thin, thereby exposing some part of the blouse and almost the entire midriff..
Fashion designer Suneet Varma once commented,"The saree is the most versatile garment in the world. It can, with a sweep of the head, be conservative or with a flash of the navel, trendy. If you are going for a prayer meeting, all you need to do is to place the pallu over the shoulders or cover your head with it. The same saree, worn a little low to show off the navel, and teamed up with a backless choli, and show a bit of cleavage, can make you the most elegant woman at a cocktail party."
Designer Shaina NC once commented, “There’s no reason why saris must be worn over a petticoat – I’m wearing mine over trousers.There’s no set rules – take your pleats to the side or over the hip, wear the pallav like a dupatta or try a double or triple sari." Some even wear navel jewels or navel piercings to draw attention to the navel.
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